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Portulaca, There are not less than eight distinct colours and 

 kinds of Portulaca, the double ones are very elegant like satin 

 rosettes, the cultivation is most easy, sown at the end of the cold 

 weather either in beds or pots, in very rich sandy soil, the surface 

 being manure dust in which the seed should be sprinkled without 

 further covering, mats should be put over the beds for two or 

 three days to exclude light, and retain an even temperature. If 

 sown too thickly, the young seedlings may be thinned out and 

 transplanted, shading them after the move for a couple of days. 

 A succession of Portulaca may be grown up to July, after which 

 the heavy rain and colder weather stops their growth till Febru- 

 ary. A large bed of Portulaca properly grown, is a beautiful 

 sight in the morning, in fact, few flowers can match it in brilli- 

 ancy and variety of colour. Care should be taken before sowing 

 the seed, that the beds or pots are perfectly level or the seed will 

 be washed down to the lowest part, and with seed sown in a bed, 

 the edges should be a little raised to prevent heavy rain washing 

 the seed and fine mould away altogether. 



Potentilla Rosacece, Potentilla Atrosanguinea. These are her- 

 baceous plants, and handsome when in flower, they grow in any 

 garden soil, the colours are various, and easily raised from seed 

 or by dividing the roots, the shrubby species grow from two to 

 three feet high. 



Primula, Primulacece. The Primrose. This genus of plants 

 includes the Auricula, Polyanthus and the Primrose. They all 

 form in Europe ornamental border flowers ; but will not succeed 

 in South India. 



Protea, Proteacece. These plants are natives of the Cape, and 

 would be found difficult to cultivate from their fleshy roots, the 

 soil best suited for their growth, is light loam mixed with sand, 

 they require great attention, as they suffer either from a want 

 or excess of water. 



Pyrethrum, Gold Feather. Gold Feather is an excellent edging 

 for borders and very useful, as contrast foliage in masses with 

 Dells Black Beet or Lobelia Erinas. Is easily reproduced by 

 division of the roots. To grow it from seed is less easy, as the 

 seedlings are very apt to damp off in wet weather, the best time for 



